Nash hoping to leave with Keegan Cup medal

This Sunday the focus will be on the Meath club SFC final in Páirc Táilteann at 3pm with Simonstown Gaels and Donaghmore / Ashbourne bidding for a first Keegan Cup success and a last game in the blue of the Gaels for Australia-bound Conor Nash who will be heading for an AFL assignment next month.

Nash will join Hawthorn on a two-year contract next month and his departure will be a big blow for the GAA in Meath at club and county level although his contribution has been limited due to his rugby commitments also.

No doubt Nash and his colleagues will be aiming to keep the Keegan Cup in Navan after the O'Mahonys exited the title race and team captain Joe Lyons is aware of the threat that Donaghmore / Ashbourne will pose after playing them in the Feis Cup final.

'It was brilliant to get to the Feis Cup final against Donaghmore/Ashbourne last month, we knew they were a high quality team. They were the favourites, but we showed that we can stand with the best of them and it will be the same next Sunday,' commented the Simonstown captain.

His Donaghmore / Ashbourne counterpart Bryan Menton who took a break from inter-county football this year is also hoping to lead his side to victory.

'This year I have been able to train with Donaghmore/Ashbourne every Tuesday and Thursday and at the weekends, I got closer to these lads too and that is probably why I was given captaincy again,' commented Menton.

'A couple of years ago we were in the final and the hype probably got the better of us. This year we are totally concentrating on the football,' added Menton who is also hoping to resume his inter-county duties with Meath after a break.

FIRST ROUND
Simonstown 1-10, Wolfe Tones 0-13

Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-9, St Patrick’s 0-7.

SECOND ROUND
Simonstown 2-12, Moynalvey 1-16

Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-12, Summerhill 1-11.

THIRD ROUND
Simonstown 1-12, Navan O’Mahonys 1-12

Donaghmore/Ashbourne 3-18, Duleek/Bellewstown 0-6.

FOURTH ROUND
Simonstown 1-13, Dunshaughlin 0-1

Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-10, Ratoath 0-13.

FIFTH ROUND
Simonstown 3-11, Na Fianna 0-8

Dunboyne 1-11, Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-8.

PRELIMINARY QUARTER-FINAL
Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-17, Dunshaughlin 1-10

QUARTER-FINALS
Simonstown 3-16, Dunboyne 1-17

Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-16, Seneschalstown 0-5.

SEMI-FINALS
Simonstown 0-14, Gaeil Colmcille 0-12

Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-9, Skryne 0-8.

KEEGAN CUP FINAL DAY

The MFC final will start the day at 12.15pm.

There will be a lot of pageantry before the big game with a commemorative event, 'Laochra na Mi', to mark the Centenary of 1916.

The event will honour the four Meath men who died in the Rising - James Fox (Drumree), Philip Clarke (Rossin), Thomas Allen (Longwood) and James McCormack (Gormanston) and will take place after the minor final from 1.45pm.

Each Meath GAA club will be represented in a parade from the Navan O'Mahonys clubhouse to the pitch.

The parade will be led by Maggie O’Higgins from Kilskyre, niece of Easter Rising participant and poet Brian O'Higgins.

The Battle of Ashbourne Centenary Commemoration Committee will also participate.

Meath Co Board chairman Conor Tormey will unveil a plaque.

Sean Boylan, son of Sean Boylan, IRB leader in 1916, will lay a wreath.

There will be the traditional ceremonial throw-in for the SFC final and that will be performed by the legendary Frankie Byrne.

Strict parking regulations will apply and patrons should arrive early.

Tickets for the final may be pre-purchased at the usual outlets and will also be on sale from 8.30pm in the Donaghmore/Ashbourne clubhouse this Friday night.

A top quality souvenir programme will be on sale and is expected to be in demand.